abraxaslogs | i'm reaching for the clouds

[ Claude's certainly not going to question that generosity twice, given he might have been teasing the first time around but if Sylvain's not going to say no? Well. If there's anything consistent about Claude von Riegan, it's that when he's given an inch he's going to take a mile if no one stops him.

This particular application requires a bit of reason, however, considering there's a limit to how much they can eat and probably an even shorter limit to how long leftovers will keep even if they disperse them among their friends. Or if he saves some of them for Hilda, since Claude doesn't doubt he'll be accosted once they return for all the details, though there aren't many. All thoughts which filter through his mind now that he's narrowing down options and feeling considerably less limited by not having to choose one as the end result. ]

What alternative might that be? [ He might be a little distracted thanks to debating the merits of a couple dishes and checking them against the mental list of ones he knows Sylvain enjoys before their server makes it back to their table. Can't have him spending his hard-earned coin without getting a little enjoyment out of it, especially because Claude still doesn't particularly want to know what this dress cost. ] One where I empty your coin purse entirely? In your own words, might I remind you, the night's still young.

I meant the alternative of enlisting.

[ Sylvain’s chuckling as he watches Claude focus. He has no idea what has the guy doing mental gymnastics, but he’s pretty proud of the fact that he knows him well enough now to pick up when he is. Which actually isn’t that much of an accomplishment, since Claude’s brain runs circles around everyone else, but still. ]

But I’m well aware to the imminent demise of my coin purse. It’s fine. It’s there meant to be spent, isn’t it? [ That was a rhetorical question, don’t disabuse him of that notion before you get your order in. ]

Did you find what you want? [ He spots their server heading back with drink refills and an appetizer. ]

Oh, right.

[ Claude already forgot he'd mentioned that not.. what, ten seconds ago, and now has to press his lips together to keep himself from smirking while he still studies the menu to weigh up all the choices. This is obviously an important decision considering the time to choose is limited, but at the mention of Sylvain apparently being all too ready to surrender his coin - that gets Claude to look up without lifting his head. There's a joke he's ready to make, even if it's not a very good one, but fortunately they're both spared from it when he recognizes a glance that means the server's approaching and said decisions have to be imminent.

All the better to sit up and move his menu out of the way in time for everything to be set down. And sure, he could read the entrees off the menu like most people would, but why not drag out his own idea of suspense instead by looping the server in with some short ramble about surprises and the like, and then tilting the menu very deliberately away from Sylvain to point to the dishes they're going to get.

With the order in, nothing to do but grin widely when it's just them again. ]

Don't worry, I ordered everything they have with crayfish.

[ He just makes a face, because of all the random things for you to remember, Claude, the fact that he hates crayfish is pretty high on that list. How do you even know that? ]

I take it back, you can pay for tonight instead.

[ Not that he resisted Claude stealing away his menu or passing it back as he sneaks in their order in the most secretive way possible. In fact, he pretty much just grins and rolls his eyes at the lengths Claude is going to drag it all out. ]

[ As the server leaves, Claude doesn't even bother turning his reaction into anything else. No, what Sylvain gets is actual, unfiltered laughter to his visible disgust. ]

Now, now. You've already offered multiple times to pay, and I don't think you get to just take that back now all because I named the monastery's best fish dish. Since you miss it so much, it wouldn't be that difficult to recreate in the Horizon sometime so you can relive everything about it right down to that delightful smell that always preceded it.

[ Claude hated the crayfish as much as that look on Sylvain's face suggested the other man did, but - speaking of actual delicious smells, there's a plate of food in front of them thanks to the appetizer Sylvain ordered. He leans forward to investigate it while reaching for the basket of bread slices to put one on a plate for Sylvain first and then grabbing one for himself. ]

This, on the other hand, I don't think I've had before. Something available only in Aquila, maybe?

[ He might have sulked a little longer, but that was impossible when he'd earned such a genuine, open laugh from the other man. One he could feel as well as hear, and it was hard to do anything but grin in response. Because like he'd told Hilda, he always felt successful when he managed to render Claude speechless. Apparently he felt the same way when he managed to make him honestly laugh, too. Huh. ]

Crayfish has been banned from the dining hall, I made sure of it. [ The cheeky retort is made with a smirk, even as he reaches for his drink. ]

And I think so. One of the merchants was raving about it earlier. Said it would be a tragedy to visit and not try it at least once. So here. We're trying it. You're welcome. [ A playful wink as Claude pushes a plate his way and he thanks him quietly. ] So how brave are you feeling?

You say that now, but wait until nostalgia hits you and you'll regret that ban.

[ Or some other such nonsense. Time for a sip of his own drink considering the refill though at that query about bravery, Claude merely gives Sylvain a flat look over the glass's brim though there's a fair bit of curiosity at the edges of it by the time he sets it back down. ]

Bravery on what kind of scale? Because if we're talking from 'one' to 'wearing a dress' I think I might have every part of that one covered. [ Then again, the dress isn't bad so it doesn't really belong as part of that scale; he's pulling it off. Also, it's why they're here, isn't it?

And that is not a thought he's intent on following anywhere further than brushing it aside, but it's replaced by something else which has him looking with mild wariness at the plate first and then back to Sylvain as he puts on a decidedly theatrical look of Deep Concern. ] You're not about to tell me this is the jelly we just spent all that time getting back into the ocean, are you?

I think the crayfish are safe from any unexpected nostalgia from me.

[ He doesn't anticipate that regret anytime soon. He can't think of a single person that actually liked the crayfish dish back home. And he usually paid attention to things like that.

He can't help but laugh at the Concerned Suspicion that gets tossed his direction, even as he adopts an innocent expression - even if it's one that looks slightly insulted by this hurtful Doubt. ]

Considering that's been a specialty for longer than our large friend's been stuck on dry land, I think you're safe. But it might be a little spicy. Just a hunch.

Also, is that our new scale now? I have to remember that one. Where does 'horse-sized scorpion' fall on that, exactly?

[ The mention of spicy gets a slightly raised eyebrow from Claude as he now surveys his plate considering he wasn't actually concerned about the contents so much as exercising a small chance to mess with Sylvain. But he is ready to try something new to him like always, which jogs his memory back to something else in recent times considering Aquila's provided more opportunities for discovery. ]

You would've liked the food they served us at Luna back at that party from the very first time we went to Nocwich. The werewolves used a lot of different spices including on the seafood which was better than anything I've ever had in Fodlan. I'm still hoping some of it might be available in Cadens somewhere I haven't found it yet.

[ A bit wistfully, since he didn't think of getting the names of the different kinds until later with the assumption he'd have time to ask before the night had turned out to be what it was. The more recent visit was all the inspiration Claude needed to try more of what was offered to them, and now? Now he grabs a fork and then looks at Sylvain expectantly. ]

I'll answer your question about the scale if you agree we'll both take a bite of this at the same time. That's fair, right?

The vampires had bloodwine. Which was supposed to be safe to consume, but uh... I wasn't quite brave enough to try that. And lucky for me, you weren't there to dare me.

[ He's smirking as he reaches for his fork, letting it hover over the plate of appetizer with a grin of anticipation. ] Sure, fair enough.

[ He jabs a piece of spiced meat - he thinks it's some sort of fish, fried maybe? - and lifts it to his mouth, waiting for Claude to do the same. Not that he's too worried. Spicy food is one of his favorites. ]

We could look for the spices in Nocwich, they might have some there.

[ Claude's tempted to point out the blood wines are all still available in Nocwich, right there and just waiting and by no means out of reach for a dare, but food's more distracting. As the other man readies a bite he does the same just in time to have his own (silent) logic turned back against him when it comes to looking for the spices. ]

Oh, probably. I meant more the fact that some of the fish we had was raw and same goes for a couple of the meat dishes, and I think it'd be in all of our best interests to not trust me to try replicating that.

[ With one last grin before Claude stops procrastinating and eats the promised spicy bite. Nothing seems to happen at first, even after some cautious chewing just in case there's something hiding somewhere, and he raises an eyebrow. It's deceptive: it's only when he goes to take a second bite that he discovered this is more of a spice level that builds but it's something he can appreciate. So far. ]

On second thought, let's recreate this first. Maybe if we ask really nicely they'll tell us the secrets behind it.

[ Sylvain takes his own bite with a grin as Claude does, taking a moment to savor it. He gets hit with nearly the same reaction, and there's a grin on his lips. One of his favorite things about dishes outside of Faerghus was the array of spices and flavors. Not that his homeland didn't have delicious dishes, but they tended to be hearty and savory instead, and he had a weakness for experiencing new things.

He makes a sound of pleasure as he enjoys that delicious burn that probably borders on obscene, even if for once he hadn't intended that to be the case. It really was just that good. ]

Oh, we so have to try and steal this recipe. [ He stabs a second bite and pops it in his mouth, casting Claude a smirk. ] Maybe you should go try batting your eyes at them.

I think I'll leave any eyelash batting to you, given how you've been upping your game with it recently while working at the bar.

[ Maybe a slight smirk of his own in return at Sylvain's expense while he takes another bite, both over the noise and from what he's seen in the tavern while either loitering around it himself or just passing through. As for the dish in front of them, Claude decides spicy's plenty accurate though it's still good. Now that he thinks about it: those mystery (to Sylvain) choices he'd made with the menu will fit in with this nicely from the guesses generated from those dining hall choices. Crayfish obviously not being one of them, but the others since there were some clues there in what's available.

That can wait, since - ]

Besides, [ as if that's not a lead, ] weren't you the one talking about flirting lessons however long ago it was? Maybe you should try showing off.

I'm pretty sure it would be incredibly rude of me, to have invited you out on a date and then divert to flirt with someone else. Even for something this delicious.

[ He's grinning cheekily as he waves a fork in Claude's direction. ]

Besides. How could I possibly focus on anyone else tonight when you're so eye-catching?

I'm not so sure it counts if I'm the one telling you to do it. Surely there's something in the etiquette books there to counteract it, even if it's a book down in Abyss because that's too scandalous for society to handle.

[ He's reaching for another forkful of food then thinks better of it to take a sip of his ale first. The urge to roll his eyes in nothing but fondness is strong but he resists it while setting down his glass. Narrowly. ]

Yeah, yeah. Tell me something I don't know about how eye-catching I am, especially when you've already told on yourself for paying attention earlier. Don't tell me you've run out of original lines already or I'll be upset.

[ He'll be no such thing, but. Having left their little game on pause is no fun, is it? What a good time to resume it. ]

[ Sylvain's lips twitch faintly as he pops that bite of spicy food into his mouth, rather than continue to wave it in Claude's direction. His gaze is full of impish mischief. ]

I'm not sure you're ready for the lines typically employed at this portion of the evening. Red's not all that flattering with Faerghus blue. And the whole ordeal might be too scandalous for you to handle.

[ Okay, now he is rolling his eyes for that one. ]

If you're looking for a time where lines alone could make me blush easily, I regret to inform you you're several years too late for that.

[ Forget the food; now Claude leans back in his seat and twirls his fork absently between his fingers while studying Sylvain with his head canted slightly to one side in the perfect picture of thought. ]

Fortunately for you, red does go with Alliance colors in a much nicer way. Unless this is just your way of saying you're not up to the challenge? [ Deep and vaguely suffering sigh here fully meant to goad Sylvain on, then - ] What a shame.

[ Sylvain's grin just widens as he watches this play at mock disappointment and then jabs his empty fork in Claude's direction. ]

Oh, don't think I'm not on to your tricks, Riegan. I'm sure you could bluster your way through any bit of innuendo and scandalous suggestions I could toss your way. Which, granted, would be fun. And telling you I'd like to bend you over the nearest surface and see if Hilda followed through on her threat that your undergarments could be as fancy as your outerwear would be right in line with that. Also, very true. But I also know none of that would turn you the slightest bit red.

Well. Maybe the being bent over the table would, a little. No, the things that makes you sputter are feelings.

[ Claude doesn't stop twirling his fork, like waiting is of no consequence at all, like they've rewound a couple minutes and he's waiting for Sylvain to pick something off the menu. Which, come to think of it: is maybe a tad accurate. Maybe even more so when he gets the answer he's fishing for and then some.

Though his expression doesn't change, something beneath it sharpens. Interest, maybe, though for which part - that remains to be seen. Either way, this feels a little bit like a prize even if it's more like the suggestion of one. Better to purse his lips as if he's considering it and everything else at length before shrugging. ]

I'm that predictable, am I? How boring for both of us. [ Now to sit forward enough to prop his elbow on the edge of the table to prop his chin in his hand, still watching Sylvain carefully beneath that now smiling mask. Sure, he could give an actual answer to all of that, but who's to say this isn't one, too? ] Though if you're intent on bending me over anything, you'll have to work harder than that.

See? Utterly avoiding the feelings.

[ Thank you for proving his point. Actually, that was pretty predictable. Although he would never make the mistake of thinking Claude was ever boring.

But he just smirks when Claude's gaze sharpens, darkens a shade. He can literally feel the focus right now. And damn, but that's potent to have fixed on you. But he's no novice at this either. He just smiles, pleased and knowing, as he threads his fingers together in front of him and studies the man back. Watching for everything he's not showing right now. ]

But you're not wrong. You do love playing hard to get. I could offer to let you do the work, if you were picky about that sort of thing, but I wasn't sure you had the first idea of what to do.

[ Which is true enough. He actually had no idea what would have caught Claude's eye, back in school. But he was pretty sure it was a very short list and he wasn't on it. He's still not entirely sure that's changed, despite the words and looks and teasing they've exchanged since he'd arrived. He's not sure what Claude's game is, unless he just enjoys the tease of it. Which is entirely possible, he supposes. But it doesn't mean he's not curious. ]

[ That gets his smile to grow wider as he leans forward more over the table with his voice a little lower. ]

Then maybe you'd better start paying even closer attention because I'm not that hard to figure out. But then again, neither are you.

[ A partial truth. Claude is complicated in an intentional attempt to keep people out, leave them confused with whatever's constantly shifting beneath the evenness he projects, or something in between. But that hasn't dissuaded Sylvain, has it? And so those traps Claude usually sets have gradually had less teeth and more distance between them in a tacit agreement of letting Sylvain closer if he chose to follow the chase, and here they are. As for the part that was some honesty: in all that time together from being here, in all those playful back-and-forths, he's figured out some less visible certainties about the man sitting across from him.

They'll have to wait since the server once again has excellent timing and he sits up to make space for the plates because there's a few of them. It's a good thing the portions here aren't overly generous so it'll be manageable enough. What's set before them includes a fish stew with the addition of hot peppers, some variety of roasted bird with a sauce Claude hadn't recognized the ingredients to, something else that'd vaguely resembled a promise of the dining hall's wild game pie and seems to have delivered - a quiet showcasing of some of what he's learned (or relearned) about the other.

Well, and then there's a vegetable stir fry slathered in cheese which might lean more towards his own interests. Can't let Sylvain have all the fun, after all. ]

Alright, which one are we starting with first?

[ Sylvain's not sure it's actually possible to play any closer attention than he has been. Not that he's going to admit that to Claude either. He's pretty sure the man's ego is well-padded enough.

Although he can't help but chuckle at Claude tossing his words back at him. Yeah, he thought he wasn't all that hard to figure out either, but apparently he'd misjudged how much most people would think to look. When your facade worked a little too well, it wasn't always to your advantage. Sure it served its purpose when he'd needed it to, but realizing it had also worked on the people who were supposed to know him best... That had been a little harder to handle.

But he doesn't have time to think up a comeback because their server returns with a large tray of food, setting out each dish on the table before them. Sylvain's gaze flits from one option to the next, taking in what each one is - and what each of them resemble. Son of a bitch.

He doesn't say anything until the server departs and Claude sits there grinning at him with his typical ease. He jabs his fork in the other man's direction once more. ]

Now you're just trying to show off.

[ Because yeah. Each sample sitting before them resembled one of Sylvain's favorite dishes from back at the Monastery. Ones he'd never realized anyone had paid close enough attention to, to pick up on. ]

[ There's a lot of plates on the table.

And there's no point in pretending he's not watching for that reaction, is there? After all, one large reason in picking what he had off the menu was for this exactly. Whatever expressions flicker across Sylvain's face while looking at each dish as they register in turn - that's the whole point. By the time a fork's pointed his way once more, there's the inclination to laugh or grin even if he's already doing one of those.

Instead, he just widens his eyes in that too practiced innocent look which isn't fooling anyone. ]

Isn't that the whole point of a date?

[ Just a reminder that was Sylvain's own choice of words before he drops the act and waves his own fork a little haphazardly, but with actual intent this time rather than continuing to fidget since now there's more than an appetizer before them. ]

Anyway, if you're not going to choose something first then I'm going to because the pastry's not going to stay crisp on that forever.

I suppose it is.

[ His tone is unquestionably fond as he counters that statement, shaking his head. It's weird. Being on a date with someone he would actually want to impress. Or be impressed by. Claude always has surprises tucked up his sleeves, but Sylvain is still coming to terms with the fact that they're occasionally aimed at him. And not in a bad way. He's still not sure how he should take that. Or any of this.

Just add this to the list of times he really wishes Claude was an easier person to read. Maybe then he wouldn't feel quite so uncertain about what all this is. And as much as he would tease Claude about making him speechless... the other man tends to have the same effect on him at the most unexpected moments. Something Sylvain is very much not used to.

But for now he just hides that behind nudging the meat pie in Claude's direction so he can help himself, even as he ladles out a bowl of the stew to try. ]

Do I even want to know why you somehow remember what dishes I was fond of, back in school?

[ Breaking into the food before the person it was technically ordered for was a rather weak threat, but Claude's not going to think twice about it when what he's eying is pushed his way. A glance around the table reveals he should've thought about asking for a few extra empty plates for courtesy's sake, but all those times camping during the war made for not being very particular about sharing the same serving out of the same dish.

Still, the fork's likely not the best utensil here so he swaps it for his spoon and fishes out a bite from the edge to take a bite with zero caution. The steam really should've warned him since now he has to take a second to abandon table manners to roll it around his mouth to keep it from scalding him. He's got a cocky throwaway comment all ready for Sylvain just as soon as he finishes this bite which is roughly the temperature of Ailell, but - for once Claude thinks better of tossing it out there.

Instead as he gets another spoonful of pie ready, this time making sure to leave it to cool to avoid repeating the initial experience, he takes a second to think of a real answer with his eyes still on his spoon. ]

I spent a lot of time studying people at the academy since I never knew what might be useful out of what I learned. And I learned a lot of things, here and there, but not everyone got my equal attention. Some people were more interesting than others.

[ And that feels a little too close to admitting something, equivocal as it is. Sylvain might've been onto something about feelings since to avoid the tiniest flicker of anxiety well-hidden to anyone looking at expressions alone Claude puts on a thoughtful expression and adds, ] or the dining hall in the Horizon helped me out. Your choice.

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